All Roads to Kerala

trrk · 31st May 2009, 12:33

Hi,

Alleppey to Trivandrum (Kazhakkoottam byepass) stretch is more or less fine right now with about 10 to 15 kms with a little rough surface, but no potholes right now.

Sherthallai - Thanneermullom link road is in bad conditions according to local newspapers.

The alternative is to drive about a 1 km or so beyond the south end of the Sherthallai byepass, take a left, continue to a T junction, take a left on to the Alleppey - Thanneermukkom road and continue on to Thanneermukkom and Kumarakam. Thanneermukkom to Kumrakam (and Kottayam) the roads are in good condition, albeit narrow and busy).

The latter route courtesy MapMyIndia Navigator (at least for me).

ImmortalZ · 1st June 2009, 13:07

Just to bring to NH47 users' notice. The Kollam -> Trivandrum route, long being one of the better stretches of road in Kerala, has started to go the way the Thrissur -> Palakkad route did. Some parts of the road has suffered from the signature deep craters caused by entire layers of tar disappearing. Drivers has to be careful, especially if their cars have small wheels - these will destroy tyres, wheels and even suspension parts if hit at high speed.

Exercise caution during night driving and/or rain.

rex_varghese · 1st June 2009, 15:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaggu

Tamilnadu is making big leaps with road infrastructure while karnataka and Kerala is chugging around close to idle. Towns like Dharmapuri, Perundurai and many other smaller villages have all been moved from the busy NH but with good connectivity/exits.

The improvement in road infrastructure brought in by Tamilnadu in the last couple of years is amazing. Every time we drive down through Tamilnadu we're pleasantly surprised at the new stretches completed, new bridges built or new bye-passes completed.

Kerala, with its politics and corruption-at-all-levels condition, may not be able to make this kind of progress any time in the near future.

Doesn't it sound absurd that a superfast highway proposed by the previous govt. was shelved by politicians and other cliche organization saying that it will devide the state into two?

Regards
Rex

jkdas · 1st June 2009, 15:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by trrk

Hi,

Alleppey to Trivandrum (Kazhakkoottam byepass) stretch is more or less fine right now with about 10 to 15 kms with a little rough surface, but no potholes right now.

Sherthallai - Thanneermullom link road is in bad conditions according to local newspapers.

Shertallai- thannermukkom is bad.

Tvm- Shertallai is ok, but thanks to recent downpour you have some bad patches after Alapuzha. Not scary or so though.

unni.ak · 1st June 2009, 19:39

Came back from yet another trip to Alleppey. Took the Hosur - Salem - Coimbatore route. Silk Board to Hosur, work is going on with sudden dips and potholes. The rains have only made matters worse.
After Electronics City, if you keep to the service road on left side, the road is pretty much clear.
Hosur to Salem is a beauty. About 10-15kms of 4lane are yet to be done, especially after Thoppur.
Salem to Coimbatore has some stretches were work is being done. Coimbatore to Thrissur is good. 4laning work is being carried out from Thrissur to Angamaly.

hellstar · 2nd June 2009, 09:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by rex_varghese

The improvement in road infrastructure brought in by Tamilnadu in the last couple of years is amazing. Every time we drive down through Tamilnadu we're pleasantly surprised at the new stretches completed, new bridges built or new bye-passes completed.

Kerala, with its politics and corruption-at-all-levels condition, may not be able to make this kind of progress any time in the near future.

Doesn't it sound absurd that a superfast highway proposed by the previous govt. was shelved by politicians and other cliche organization saying that it will devide the state into two?

Regards
Rex

the least we talk about this the better , coz it only ends in getting on your nerves are we are not able to effect any change in this situation, I had access to the plans of this road through an international planning agency and it was designed to cut down the travel time from TVM - COK by half. engergised the commerce and development of the vizhinjam port project.

PS: they even compared this proposed road to the Wall in germany !

deepclutch · 2nd June 2009, 13:35

I read in manorama newspaper that Hill Highway route plan is completed.It is 1300kms long!!! and passes through all districts except alappuzha.One Interesting point is ,this route connects the missing link - Kothamangalam to Chalakudy via Illithode.

North-south hill highway work to begin soon

tortoise · 2nd June 2009, 15:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by hellstar

the least we talk about this the better , coz it only ends in getting on your nerves are we are not able to effect any change in this situation,

It is not just the politicians. The attitude also matters. Got used to seeing a development activity as a means of making money for promoters.

Further, the land acquisition process is long one. By the time all issues are settled in/off court, the plan would have outlived its utility. The density of population also does not help.

Before the mod says OT, let us close this discussion and enjoy the roads in TN on our way to Kerala

tortoise · 2nd June 2009, 16:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaggu

Road surface is excellent till Palghat and I arrived at 1245pm with under 6 hours drive.

I was driving from Palakkad to Bangalore on May 31st. started at 5.35 am and reached my home in Sarjapur road exactly at 12.00 pm. A total distance of 400 kms ( exactly ) with around 40 minutes of break. in the newly done Thoppur Krishnagiri road one can easily maintain 120-140 km. In this journey I took the Bhavani - Mettur - Thoppur road which increased the journey time

If they finish atleast the Perundurai Walayar 4 laning part

, one can cover this distance in 5 hours. this means start at 4 am in the morning and be there at Palakkad for the breakfast

Jaggu · 2nd June 2009, 18:52

Started today at 6 AM sharp from palghat fort Jn and i was at silkboard jn at around 1225 PM. With 30 odd minutes breakfast stop.

Traffic was light till Bhavani, then the grind started till salem and after the stop, for another 20 kms from salem. From then on cruising at 120-140 range till outskirts of Hosur.

One thing i realized the charm of the old road driving is lost, whereby you would have taken atleast 5 panka's by the time you reach Salem

This one is close to boring apart for keeping an eagle eye out for notorious local drivers, who dont care anything for the right or wrong track. Also one needs to be very conscious NOT to fall asleep especially at night, one of my friend almost lost it when he dozed off for few secs last week, he pulled over and slept in the car for an hour before continuing.

Saw one major crowd with few ambulances waiting, before reaching Krishnagiri on the RT side (towards salem), pretty much looked like one of these acts ending in fatality!

joecherian · 7th June 2009, 07:43

Bandipur blocked for night travel ?

Quote from today's TOI

Bangalore: There is some more good news for environment activists after various pledges and initiatives on World Environment Day. Vehicular traffic on NH-67 (Ooty-Mysore Road) and NH-212 (Mysore-Sultan Battery Road), through Bandipur National Park, will be closed between 9 pm and 6 am to help conservation and avoid accidents involving animals.
Chamrajanagar district commissioner Manoj Kumar Meena issued a circular in this regard on June 3, asking officials to carry out the orders from June 6. Only two government buses will be permitted to pass through the critical tiger reserve during those hours. Authorities have made allowance for ambulances and fire engines to pass through at all times.

trrk · 7th June 2009, 19:59

Hi,

The south bound lanes of the 4 laned Aroor Sherthallai strecth has broken roads starting from about 11kms from Aroor, It is broken at several places almost until where the Sherthallai byepass ends (X Ray junction).

The north bound lanes are better with very rare bad spots.

rex_varghese · 8th June 2009, 09:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by joecherian

Bandipur blocked for night travel ?
Vehicular traffic on NH-67 (Ooty-Mysore Road) and NH-212 (Mysore-Sultan Battery Road), through Bandipur National Park, will be closed between 9 pm and 6 am to help conservation and avoid accidents involving animals.

I've seen pretty heavy traffic on Gundlepet-S. Battery road in the night-time compared to the day. I noticed this while traveling few times by bus in Jan'09 and while driving down couple of times by myself. I think it's a wise decision to restrict night-traffic through these forests.

Not sure how the innumerable private bus operators from/to Calicut, Kannur, Tellichery, Iritty will accommodate this.

Regards
Rex

pypkmsrikanth · 8th June 2009, 10:27

At one point of time every other weekend I used to go to Bandipur / Mudumalai. The vehicles which ply both these roads to Bathery & Gudalur from Gundlupet drive with very little regard for the wildlife, especially once the roads from the Bandipur Park entrance upto Tamil Nadu border was fully done, strange that the Government decided to do nothing about the stretch from Gundlupet to Bandipur park entrance which is where good roads would have mattered, instead made up the road in a stretch where it would have been better for the animals if the road was bad.

Am sure a lot of us in the forum also have sped through the forests during night without considering the plight of animals which might have to cross the road for basic needs like Food & Water.

Any one complaining about the closure of this road in the night should think about the state of Sathyamangalam - Thimbam stretch which at one point of time used to see herds of elephants crossing the road often during the nights, over time the road conditions became better and better with vehicle speeds becoming higher and higher you would be lucky to even spot a wild boar in the night leave alone any other animal of note.

Would it mean the only way to reach North Kerala through the night is to go via Virajpet, hopefully they do up the road atleast. This is a lesser evil as compared to NH67 & NH212

dilipkumar7278 · 8th June 2009, 13:45

HI
the roads from alappuzha to aroor has taken its toll due to the rains.From Thuravoor junction till aroor the deterioration in the surface was felt more than last week. If the rain continues like this we can expect full sized potholes within a week.

31st May 2009, 12:33	#616
trrk Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Alleppey, Kerala Posts: 2,114 Thanked: 34 Times View My Garage	Hi, Alleppey to Trivandrum (Kazhakkoottam byepass) stretch is more or less fine right now with about 10 to 15 kms with a little rough surface, but no potholes right now. Sherthallai - Thanneermullom link road is in bad conditions according to local newspapers. The alternative is to drive about a 1 km or so beyond the south end of the Sherthallai byepass, take a left, continue to a T junction, take a left on to the Alleppey - Thanneermukkom road and continue on to Thanneermukkom and Kumarakam. Thanneermukkom to Kumrakam (and Kottayam) the roads are in good condition, albeit narrow and busy). The latter route courtesy MapMyIndia Navigator (at least for me).
	() Thanks

1st June 2009, 13:07	#617
ImmortalZ Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Trivandrum Posts: 2,179 Thanked: 488 Times View My Garage	Just to bring to NH47 users' notice. The Kollam -> Trivandrum route, long being one of the better stretches of road in Kerala, has started to go the way the Thrissur -> Palakkad route did. Some parts of the road has suffered from the signature deep craters caused by entire layers of tar disappearing. Drivers has to be careful, especially if their cars have small wheels - these will destroy tyres, wheels and even suspension parts if hit at high speed. Exercise caution during night driving and/or rain.
	() Thanks

1st June 2009, 19:39	#620
unni.ak BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 777 Thanked: 84 Times View My Garage	Came back from yet another trip to Alleppey. Took the Hosur - Salem - Coimbatore route. Silk Board to Hosur, work is going on with sudden dips and potholes. The rains have only made matters worse. After Electronics City, if you keep to the service road on left side, the road is pretty much clear. Hosur to Salem is a beauty. About 10-15kms of 4lane are yet to be done, especially after Thoppur. Salem to Coimbatore has some stretches were work is being done. Coimbatore to Thrissur is good. 4laning work is being carried out from Thrissur to Angamaly.
	() Thanks

2nd June 2009, 13:35	#622
deepclutch Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Muvattupuzha Posts: 1,165 Thanked: 162 Times	I read in manorama newspaper that Hill Highway route plan is completed.It is 1300kms long!!! and passes through all districts except alappuzha.One Interesting point is ,this route connects the missing link - Kothamangalam to Chalakudy via Illithode. North-south hill highway work to begin soon Last edited by deepclutch : 2nd June 2009 at 13:39.
	() Thanks

2nd June 2009, 18:52	#625
Jaggu Team-BHP Support Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 20,215 Thanked: 15,906 Times	Started today at 6 AM sharp from palghat fort Jn and i was at silkboard jn at around 1225 PM. With 30 odd minutes breakfast stop. Traffic was light till Bhavani, then the grind started till salem and after the stop, for another 20 kms from salem. From then on cruising at 120-140 range till outskirts of Hosur. One thing i realized the charm of the old road driving is lost, whereby you would have taken atleast 5 panka's by the time you reach Salem This one is close to boring apart for keeping an eagle eye out for notorious local drivers, who dont care anything for the right or wrong track. Also one needs to be very conscious NOT to fall asleep especially at night, one of my friend almost lost it when he dozed off for few secs last week, he pulled over and slept in the car for an hour before continuing. Saw one major crowd with few ambulances waiting, before reaching Krishnagiri on the RT side (towards salem), pretty much looked like one of these acts ending in fatality!
	() Thanks

7th June 2009, 07:43	#626
joecherian BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Almhult,Sweden Posts: 550 Thanked: 80 Times View My Garage	Bandipur blocked for night travel ? Quote from today's TOI Bangalore: There is some more good news for environment activists after various pledges and initiatives on World Environment Day. Vehicular traffic on NH-67 (Ooty-Mysore Road) and NH-212 (Mysore-Sultan Battery Road), through Bandipur National Park, will be closed between 9 pm and 6 am to help conservation and avoid accidents involving animals. Chamrajanagar district commissioner Manoj Kumar Meena issued a circular in this regard on June 3, asking officials to carry out the orders from June 6. Only two government buses will be permitted to pass through the critical tiger reserve during those hours. Authorities have made allowance for ambulances and fire engines to pass through at all times.
	() Thanks

7th June 2009, 19:59	#627
trrk Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Alleppey, Kerala Posts: 2,114 Thanked: 34 Times View My Garage	As on 06/06/2009 Hi, The south bound lanes of the 4 laned Aroor Sherthallai strecth has broken roads starting from about 11kms from Aroor, It is broken at several places almost until where the Sherthallai byepass ends (X Ray junction). The north bound lanes are better with very rare bad spots.
	() Thanks

8th June 2009, 10:27	#629
pypkmsrikanth Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 1,124 Thanked: 283 Times View My Garage	At one point of time every other weekend I used to go to Bandipur / Mudumalai. The vehicles which ply both these roads to Bathery & Gudalur from Gundlupet drive with very little regard for the wildlife, especially once the roads from the Bandipur Park entrance upto Tamil Nadu border was fully done, strange that the Government decided to do nothing about the stretch from Gundlupet to Bandipur park entrance which is where good roads would have mattered, instead made up the road in a stretch where it would have been better for the animals if the road was bad. Am sure a lot of us in the forum also have sped through the forests during night without considering the plight of animals which might have to cross the road for basic needs like Food & Water. Any one complaining about the closure of this road in the night should think about the state of Sathyamangalam - Thimbam stretch which at one point of time used to see herds of elephants crossing the road often during the nights, over time the road conditions became better and better with vehicle speeds becoming higher and higher you would be lucky to even spot a wild boar in the night leave alone any other animal of note. Would it mean the only way to reach North Kerala through the night is to go via Virajpet, hopefully they do up the road atleast. This is a lesser evil as compared to NH67 & NH212
	() Thanks

8th June 2009, 13:45	#630
dilipkumar7278 BANNED Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: COCHIN Posts: 441 Thanked: 109 Times View My Garage	HI the roads from alappuzha to aroor has taken its toll due to the rains.From Thuravoor junction till aroor the deterioration in the surface was felt more than last week. If the rain continues like this we can expect full sized potholes within a week.
	() Thanks